10th GP Miguel Indurain - 1.HC

Spain, April 5, 2008

Wegmann takes his second win in Estella

Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) took his second victory in the Gran Premio Miguel
Indurain in Estella, Navarra. He beat Switzerlands Michael Albasini (Liquigas)
and the Spaniard Joaquím Rodríguez (Caisse d’Epargne) to take the victory in
the tough race.

"I hoped to win", a happy Fabian Wegmann said at the finish. "Two years ago
I was able to win and so, I knew the race. Also, we trained yesterday and tested
the final ascent, so I knew that I had to be with the five, ten first riders
when as it got steeper. My team was very strong and helped me in the last lap,
because we knew that we could not allow any breakaway to get away. All went
like I expected, and so I was able to win."

How it unfolded

132 signed on for the 199.2 kilometre race which includes four mountain passes.
The riders enjoyed sunny skies and warm weather, with a huge public - including
the local sheep - watching on as they made their way to the finish.

Rolling away from the start, the peloton was content to set an early, quiet
pace before winding it up towards the finish. Three riders, Jorge Azanza (Euskaltel
- Euskadi), Eduardo Vorganov (Karpin Galicia) and the neo professional Rafael
Serrano (Contentpolis - Murcia), took advantage of the slow pace, riding off
the front to begin building up their advantage.

Two hours after the start, the three built up a solid advantage over the peloton,
which seemed unfazed by their seven minute advantage.

The last third of the race was where all the action was set to happen. Four
mountains - including two ascents of the Guirguillano (1st category), one of
the Alto de Lezaun (2nd category), and the final ascent to the little church
"Basílica del Puy" (3rd category) - made the race difficult for the young riders
out front.

Caisse d’Epargne, hoping for a home win, were active in chasing the trio down
as the race began in earnest. It was Azanza who was the first to surrender in
the break away, and shortly after they began the second descent of the Guirguillano
the other two had been caught by the main field.

ProTour teams, Euskaltel - Euskadi, Caisse d’Epargne, Saunier Duval and Gerolsteiner
took over the race from here. Obviously on good form, and with a strong team
around him, Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) proved to strong for the rest of the field.
After all the late attacks had been brought back by his team, Wegmann finished
off their good work with a win.